Index

A Tropical Paradise

The gateway to the Mediterranean

The bastion of the coast

A fortress of cultures

Contrasting Beaches

Traditions with a distinctive flavour

Fiestas and Culture

Natural Spaces

For the more active visitor

Route 1- AlmuñécarCradle of the Mediterranean culture

Route 2- MotrilWatching over the coast

Route 3- SalobreñaThe taste of Andalusia

Route 4- The eastern part of the Costa TropicalLooking over the Mediterranean

Route 5- Inland villagesA simple charm

Useful information

Provincial map

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Europa

España

Andalucía

Granada

Baza - Huéscar:El Altiplano

PonienteGranadino

GranadaSierra

Nevada

Alpujarra -Valle de Lecrín

Costa Tropical

Guadix y Marquesado

© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de GranadaDesign and Production:www.edantur.com

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CostaTropical

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A Tropical Paradise The gateway to the Mediterranean

Colossal Muslim for-tresses and castles standmajestically above smallcoastal towns, next tomarinas or well-developedseaside resorts. In thebackground stands theSierra Nevada, above thesteep gorges and cliffswhich overlook paradise-like coves. The Costa Tro-pical is a land of contrastswhich offers visitors awide variety of possibili-ties.

The heritage andvaluable archaeologicalremains which are conser-ved in the simple but char-ming towns and villages ofthe area should not bemissed by anyone. Thereare also breathtaking natu-ral areas which will delightlovers of sports and active tourism.

View of Salobreña4

The sea and the sierras embrace this land and its rich culturallegacy which, due to its strategic position watching over the coastline,was much coveted by the most powerful civilisations.

Beaches, coves, beautiful scenery, quiet coastal and inland towns:these are perhaps the main attractions of an area with a subtropical cli-mate and mild temperatures all year round which makes an ideal des-tination for a dream-like holiday.

The Granadan Costa Tropical, on the Mediterranean coast, is tothe south of the province. To get there, one option is to take a planeto the airports of Almería, Malaga or Granada. By road the best accessis via the A-92 which links with the N-323, much of which is motorway,or, from the Costa del Sol or Almería, through the network of nationaland local roads which run parallel to the coast. 5

The bastion of the coast

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rial period saw the cons-truction of great monu-ments which have survi-ved the passage of time.

The Costa Tropicalreached the height of itssplendour with the Mus-lims, under whose ruletowns like Lentejí, Otí-var, Jete, and Almuñécarbecame key parts of theNasrid kingdom.

It was also duringthe Muslim period thatthe first defensive for-tresses, watchtowers,and observation posts wereconstructed to defend the coastfrom potential invaders. Theyproved to be of great use duringthe Modern Age as ameans of defending thecoast from attacks by theBerbers and Turkish.

The Christian con-quest and the expulsionof the Moriscos (conver-ted Muslims) was follo-wed by a period of deve-lopment which would lastuntil modern times, inwhich the cultivation of

tropical fruits, the production ofhigh quality wines, and the tou-rist industry all became impor-tant.

Due to their strategic situation, the towns and villageswhich stretch along the Granadan Costa Tropical, were muchcoveted by the numerous civilisations which chose the area tosettle. Phoenicians, Romans, Muslims and Christians werecaptivated by its excellent climate of mild temperatures andits situation at the foot of a fertile valley sheltered by the Gra-nadan sierras.

The remains found in the area are evidence of the existence of humansettlements in the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Argaric periods. The nume-rous peoples who lived there have left important vestiges such as the archa-eological remains found in the Cave of Los Murciélagos, in Albuñol, whichis one of the most important Neolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula.

It was the Phoenicians however, expert traders and sailors fromAsia Minor, who settled in the area’s fertile lands and developed abuoyant economy based on mercantile traffic, agricultural production,and fish-salting. During this period the Phoenician-Punic Sexi (Almu-ñécar) became one of the most important commercial ports in theMediterranean and its relevance was highlighted by ancient writerssuch as Strabon and Pliny “the Elder”.

Under the Romans, who inherited the infrastructures and poten-tial which had been developed by their predecessors, Salobreña’seconomy benefited from the fact that the town formed part of theroute that linked Castulo with Malaka, whilst in Almuñécar the Impe-

Statue of Abd-al-Rahman I, in Almuñécar

Tropical crops

Marina del Este marina, in Almuñécar

The legacy left by the Muslims is stillclearly visible not only in the older partsof larger coastal towns like Almuñécarand Salobreña but also in smallmunicipalities which are further inlandsuch as Ítrabo and Jete.

A fortress of cultures

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Castillo de Baños. Nume-rous towers still keepwatch over the area’s coas-tline such as those of Cau-tor and La Instancia andothers in Albuñol, CerroGordo, and Punta de laMona, the last two in La

Herradura.Examples of reli-

gious architectureare also ubiquitous inthe municipalities ofthe Costa Tropical.Thus, there arenumerous churches,such as La Encarna-ción, in Almuñécar,which was one of thefirst in the provinceto be built in a pro-to-baroque style, andthe Church of LaVirgen del Rosario,from the 17th cen-tury, in Albuñol.

The significant num-ber of valuable archaeo-logical sites and monu-ments which remain inthe area today are evi-dence of the numerouscivilisations which haveleft their imprint on thisland with its wonderfulclimate.

Thus, from the ear-liest settlers we can findvaluable remains dating from theNeolithic and the Bronze Age atthe Cave of El Capitán, in Lobres;Llanos de Carchuna, in Motril; ElPeñón, El Hacho and El Caminode los Barreros, in Salobreña;and the Cave of Los Murciélagos,in Albuñol, where beautifully pre-served basketwork from theNeolithic period has been found.

The Phoenician also left theirimprint in Almuñécar, where the

Necropolis of Puente de Noy isto be found. One of the mostinteresting features in the necro-polis is a funerary casket contai-ning a body in the foetal postureand four ceramic vases. The mostimportant remains in the townhowever are those from theimpressive works carried out bythe Romans: an aqueduct fromthe 1st century AD, the Tower ofEl Monje, the Columbarium LaAlbina, and the Cave of SietePalacios. The latter, a large watercistern with vaulted ceilingssurrounding the Cerro de SanMiguel hill, is one of the mostimportant urban constructions ofRoman Hispania. The cave hou-ses the Municipal ArchaeologicalMuseum which displays a valua-ble cinerary vase of the PharaohApophis I, dating from betweenthe 17th and 16th centuries BC.

During the Muslim periodthere was a proliferation of for-tressed castles, watchtowers andobservation posts, which wereused as a means of protectionagainst incursions by the Christiantroops. Examples include theremains of the castles of Salobre-ña, Albuñol, San Miguel, in Almu-ñécar, Castell de Ferro, Carchu-na and La Herradura; later, in the16th century, the Christians cons-tructed fortresses such as the

Roman Aqueduct in Almuñécar

Castle of Salobreña

Tower of Cautor

The Cave of Los Murciélagos is considered to be one ofthe most important Neolithic sites in the whole IberianPeninsular.

Contrasting Beaches

include the beaches of La Juana,El Pozuelo, and La Rábita, inAlbuñol, whilst in Salobreña,the solitary beach of La Guardiaor the natural coves of El Cale-tón and El Pargo, which areconcealed by cliffs and lie alongthe coast on either side of theGranadan municipality, are ideal.

For enthusiasts of naturismthe beaches of Cantarriján andEl Muerto, in Almuñécar, LaJoya, in Motril, and El Ruso, enAlbuñol offer a truly secludedparadise.

A bright blue sky and the calmwaters of the Mediterranean seawhich stay warm all year round: inthis wonderful setting there are agreat variety of different beacheswhich are suitable for all kinds ofvisitors.

Those who like spending long hours sunbathing on the beach inthe company of their family but crave the comforts offered by largetourist resorts, are sure to find the beach of their dreams in themunicipalities of Motril and Almuñécar. They can while away thedays relaxing and swimming on the beaches of La Herradura, SanCristóbal, El Tesorillo and Velilla – all of them in Almuñecar – orCalahonda, Poniente, Granada, Torrenueva and Carchuna, in

Motril. These beaches are noted for their deep and crystallinewaters and are ideal forpractising marinesports, such as divingand fishing.

Lovers of peace andtranquillity, who preferto be away from themore crowded touristresorts, have a widechoice of sheltered andsolitary coves whichcan be found all alongthe coast. Examples

El Tesorillo beach (Almuñécar)

La Caleta beach (Salobreña)

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lities such as Salobreñaand Almuñécar, there isa considerable level ofproduction of hand-made leather goods(particularly horse tack).

For visitors who aretempted to take a souve-nir home as a token oftheir holiday, there arenumerous establishmentsselling macramé objects - such asbags – as well as a wide range ofhand crafted shawls, tapestries, decorativelamps or glass vases.

The Mediterranean provides the municipalities of the areawith a wide variety of delicious fish which is the basic ingre-dient of many traditional dishes. The tropical fruits, which arewidely used to garnish seafood, vegetable, and meat dishes,add an exotic touch to the local gastronomy.

Accompanied bylocally produced vegeta-bles, or on its own, fish iscooked by capable andwell-practiced hands toproduce traditional reci-pes, such as escabeches(marinated fish), salazo-nes (salted fish), stuffedsquid, moragas de pesca-do and the popular espe-tos de sardinas (sardine ske-wers) which are grilled on thebeach.

The tropical and exoticfruit, for which the local soils

and climate are ideal, form thebasic ingredient of the tastiestdesserts. It is common to finddelicious cherimoyas, dateplums, mangos and papayas,accompanied by the exquisitesugar cane rum, which is pro-duced both in Motril and Salo-breña.

The wines produced in theCosta Tropical are renowned in the whole province for their high qua-

lity, the most widely recognised being those fromvines grown in villages like Polopos,

or the mosto (must) from Molví-zar and Ítrabo.Some traditional crafts such assaddlery and barrel making, aswell as esparto and wicker-work, have survived in thearea. Likewise in municipa-

Traditions with a distinctive flavour

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If there is one scene whichis truly evocative of thesummer months it is thebonfires which are lit on thebeach to grill the typicalespetos on wooden stakes.This is a job with its ownparticular artistry and scien-ce and can’t be hurried.First of all, the cook cleansthe fish without guttingthem, he then cuts a fewreeds, sharpens one of theirends and removes the thre-ads as they could get lod-ged in between the fishbones and meat. The reeds,or espetos, are insertedfrom under the backbone ofthe fish so as to avoid themeat from falling onto thefire when it is grilled.

Bonfires at night

Fiestas and Culture

Competition which is named afterthe illustrious adopted son of Almu-ñécar and La Herradura. It is a delightfor music lovers and is held in themunicipality of Almuñécar during thefirst week of the year.

The old Roman Sexi also hosts ajazz festival (the Festival Jazz en la Cos-ta) – an event which in its first fifteenyears of history has attracted some ofthe best blues, jazz and bossa novaperformers - and the José MartínRecuerda Theatre Festival, in tributeto the playwright from Granada.

The fiestas celebrated inthe municipalities of the Cos-ta Tropical of Granada have amarked idiosyncratic charac-ter and reflect traditions andcustoms which are deeplyrooted in the area.

The coastal villagescelebrate the Night ofSan Juan (with lighting ofbonfires), the May Cros-ses, and the picturesquefiesta in honour of theVirgen del Carmen, thepatron saint of seafarers,

which is taken out for a proces-sion in July.

Folk music also plays a key partin the area’s cultural life. An exampleof this is the Trovo, a type of traditio-nal song of Arabic-Andalusian ori-gins which is typical of some of themunicipalities in the area, particularlyAlbuñol. Trovos are structured in five

line verses and areused by the locals toexpress their feelingsand complaints andto tell stories in animprovised manner.Of considerablerenown are theAndrés SegoviaInternational Classi-cal Guitar Festivaland Song Writing

14In the summer Salobreña hosts two importantevents which should not be missed: the NewTrends and Theatre Festival and the Luces delAlba Festival, which includes performances bysome of the biggest names in flamenco.

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FestivalsALMUÑÉCAR

CERTAMEN INTERNACIONAL DE GUITARRACLÁSICA Y CONCURSO DE COMPOSICIÓNANDRÉS SEGOVIAY 958630333CERTAMEN DE TEATRO JOSÉ MARTÍNRECUERDAY 958838605FESTIVAL JAZZ EN LA COSTAY 958247372

SALOBREÑA

FESTIVAL NUEVAS TENDENCIAS Y TEATROY 958610314FESTIVAL LUCES DEL ALBA

Natural Spaces

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One of the largest of these –covering an area of some 40,600hectares - is the Natural Park ofthe Sierras of Tejeda, Almijaraand Alhama, which marks theborder between the provinces ofMalaga and Granada. Full of his-tory and legends about revoltsand bandolero raids, these moun-tains form a strikingly ruggedlandscape of high jagged peaks,with steep escarpments and deepgorges.

The diversity of the flora isanother of the features of thearea. Some of the most interes-ting species to be found thereinclude: Aleppo pines, fan palms,spurge olives and box. There isalso a small tejeda (an area popu-lated with yew trees) whose mainpoint of interest is that it is thesouthernmost one in the IberianPeninsula and one of the best

examples of its kind in Andalusia.The fauna includes squirrels, wildgoats, and large birds of prey,which fly high over the peaks likethat of La Maroma.

Nearby, between the townsof Nerja and Almuñécar is Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs Natural Site,a natural area formed by towe-ring dolomitic limestone cliffs loo-

king down onto beautifulsmall coves. These craggycliffs are pitted with nume-rous caves and underwa-ter grottoes such as thoseof Los Genoveses and LaCajilla. The seabed in thisarea is covered with abun-dant posidonia oceanica.

Also in this area is LosPeñones de San Cristóbal,

three large crags sticking out into the sea creatinga geographical milestone on the western coast ofGranada and a natural mirador.

Spectacular views are also a feature of theexceptional Peña Escrita Ecological Park in Almu-ñécar, an unspoilt environment with a combina-tion of three types of landscapes: the foothills ofthe Sierra Nevada, the high mountain villages of

the Alpujarras, and a tropical valley which appears to blend into theMediterranean.

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The peaks in the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijaraand Alhama bear a striking resemblance tothe Picos de Europa, each being almost asymmetrical mirror image of the other inthe Iberian Peninsula.

In addition to the paradise-like bea-ches, the Costa Tropical also has otherplaces of great natural beauty, which,throughout the year, offer visitors thepossibility to interact with nature andpractice a wide range of activities.

For the more active visitor

The beaches and coastlineof towns such as Motril, Salo-breña and Almuñécar attract alarge number of boats andyachts, as well as sailing, divingand windsurfing enthusiastswho fill the area with colour. Incontrast to this, the naturalareas which are further inlandare a mecca for walkers andnature lovers who prefer toenjoy the quiet countryside andadmire the rich flora and fauna.

The Costa Tropical offerslovers of nautical sports an incredi-ble range of possibilities. The bea-ches of Carchuna and La Herradu-ra are ideal for windsurfing, water-skiing or sailing, experiencing theexhilarating speed of a water-bike,or simply enjoying a swim in theirwarm and crystalline waters.

The rich marine life of the sea-bed, which is clad with abundantprairies of posidonia and is home tospecies like groupers, sea bass, redsnappers, and wrasses, are a paradi-se for divers. The whole coast isdotted with enclaves of outstandingbeauty such as La Herradura and Calahonda, as well as natural cavesand grottoes – which provide a natural habitat for species such as con-gers and moray eels. Other interesting features include the Maro-

Cerro Gordo, a line of cliffs, formed bythe action of erosion stretching over 395hectares of the coast where the Sierrameets the Mediterranean.

For boat lovers, this part of the coasthas the Motril Sailing Club, with 128 moo-rings, and the Marina del Este Sailing Clubof Almuñécar, in Punta de la Mona.

Those who wish to combine a day bythe sea with other kinds of pursuits couldperhaps opt for the Los Moriscos GolfClub in Motril which is one of the two golfcourses in the province.

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For the more active visitor

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The natural areasfurther inland are also ide-al for practising active tourism. The various footpaths and forest trailsthrough the Sierra deAlmijara and the PeñaEscrita Ecological Parkoffer visitors the possibilityof following routes on hor-seback or in 4WD vehicles.

And for those whoprefer more exhilaratingexperiences, there is not-hing better than taking tothe skies on a hang glideror paraglider, and taking inthe spectacular beauty ofthe numerous coves, steep

cliffs and deep gorgeswhich are dottedalong the coast.

The wide choiceof activities availableon the Costa Tropicalalso includes with triketours, canyoneering,climbing, and trekking.

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With its excellent climate and unique landscape,Almuñécar and the surrounding countryside is afavourite destination for lovers of hang glidingand paragliding. There are numerous take-offsites in the area such as Cerro Gordo-Cañuelo,La Herradura, Otívar, Peña Escrita, Loma delGato, and Sierra of Lújar.

important coastal town in thearea. It was here that Abd al-Rah-man I landed in 755, fleeing fromthe atmosphere of unrest thatbefell Damascus. He then headedtowards Cordoba, where hefounded the Umayyad Emirate. Alarge bronze statue at the foot ofthe Peñón del Santo commemo-rates this historical event.

The legacy of themany peoples and civilisa-tions that lived in the areais clearly reflected in thetown’s rich heritage. Fine

examples of this are the Phoe-nician Necropolis of Puente deNoy, the Cave of Siete Pala-cios, the Tower of El Monje,the Columbarium of La Albina,the Arab Castle of San Miguel,the observation posts and theChurch of La Encarnación.

La Cruz del Santo is an idealplace to admire the diversity oflandscapes that gives Almuñé-car such a special character.

From this natural mirador onecan also get good views of thefields of tropical fruit, which,together with fish, are the essen-tial ingredients of the rich localgastronomy.

In addition to its greathistorical past, Almuñécar,the cradle of Mediterrane-an culture, is situated in aunique enclave betweenthe sea and the mountains,and enjoys a subtropicalclimate with mild tempera-tures all year round.

Bathed by the warm watersof the Mediterranean and shelte-red by the peaks of the SierraNevada, Almuñecar wasfounded by the Phoe-nicians – whocalled it Ex –

in the 8th century BC. Later theRomans were to take full advan-tage of the well-structured citycreated by their predecessors

who had developed a thrivingeconomy supported by

a salt-fishing industry.During the Al-Anda-lus period, Almuñé-car became the most

Route 1- AlmuñécarCradle of the Mediterranean culture

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Marina del Este marina

Remains of the fish-salting factory

The Roman Sexi supplied the RomanEmpire with the much-coveted garum(a paste made with fish entrails),which was considered to be a greatdelicacy.

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Far from limiting the already wide range of choices that the muni-cipality can offer the tourist, Almuñécar has continued to grow andlook for new alternatives. Thus, thanks to the numerous attractions andwell-developed infrastructure, the target of becoming an importantcentre for hosting congresses and otherevents is now becoming a reality.

Cradle of the Mediterranean culture

Its large beaches, natural areas such as the Maro-Cerro GordoCliffs, and its proximity to the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, make Almu-ñécar an ideal destination for lovers of nature and outdoor sports whoalso wish to enjoy some pea-ce and tranquillity.

The beach of La Herra-dura is an ideal place for anunforgettable holiday. Forminga natural port, the bay of themunicipality bearing the samename – the second largestarea of population in Almuñé-car – has outstanding naturalqualities which certainly didn’tgo unnoticed by the various maritime expedi-tions of successive civilisations.

For the rich marine life of its seabed, LaHerradura, which stret-ches between the Puntade la Mona and thePeñón de Cerro Gor-do, has become the

favourite destination ofdivers and lovers of

nautical sports. Likewise,its rugged and mountai-

nous landscapes are aparadise for hang gliders and paragliders.

In the El Majuelo Archaeological and Botanical Parkit is possible to see more than 182 plant species fromall the different tropical zones in the world, while theLoro Sexi Ornithological Park contains some1,500 birds - from common doves, to spectacularpeacocks, parrots, cockatoos, macaws and swans.

Panoramic views of San Cristóbal beach

La Herradura beach, in Almuñécar

Archaeological Museum

24El Majuelo Botanical Gardens

• Remains of the Romanaqueduct, from the 1st

century AD. Of specialinterest are the parts foundin the Torrecuevas quarter,La Carrera de laConcepción (right in thecentre of the town), and theCercado de La Santa Cruz.• MunicipalArchaeological Museum,housed in the cave of LosSiete Palacios.• City Museum. Housedin a military pavilion fromthe 16th century which isconserved inside theCastle of San Miguel.• Watch towers: Velilla,La Golondrina, LaHerradura or Tamaray.• A pillar in Calle Realstreet, 16th century.• Castle of La Herradura,18th century.

ALSO VISIT…

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Route 2: MotrilWatching over the coast

Perched on a hill at the footof the Sierra de Lújar, Motril, thecity with the largest population inthe province after Granada itself,has much to offer the visitor.Apart from its sunny beaches andmarvellous climate, there isexquisite tropical produce suchas sugar cane and the rich herita-ge of its long history.

The calm sea and the bluesky have witnessed all the diffe-rent peoples who have passedthrough what is considered to be

the capital of the Costa Tropical. Its ori-gins are extremely ancient and there

are even those who believe that it isthe site of the legendary Murgis.

What is without doubt is thatthe Moors were here, and

during the Andalusí periodit was an important for-

tress, forming part ofthe defences on the

Granada coastline.Its unique location, 2 km

inland from the coast, protected it during the 16th and 17th

centuries from the frequent attacks by Berber pirates, andfrom then on it has experienced a process of continualgrowth and development which has made it an importantcentre of communication and key point for coastal traffic.

Perched on a hill at the foot of the Sierra de Lújar, Motril,the city with the largest population in the province afterGranada itself, has much to offer the visitor. Apart from itssunny beaches and marvellous climate, there is exquisite

tropical produce such as sugar cane and the richheritage of its long history.

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The Pueblos de América Park

Motril’s Marina

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View of the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza

which Paleolithic remains and numerouscave paintings from the Neolithic and theBronze Age have been found. Also of inte-

rest are the Parish Church of La Encarnación, built over the old Main Mos-que, the Nuestra Señora del Pilar sugar factory, and the Sanctuary of theVirgen de la Cabeza, constructed over the residence of the mother of KingBoabdil, on a hilltop with magnificent views.

Watching over the coast

One of the most attractive aspects ofthe town is undoubtedly its port which isimportant for fishing, commercial activities,

and nauti-cal sports.Anothertown inthe muni-c i p a l i t yw h i c halso has aport is Calahonda.The mild breezes which blow gently overbeaches such as La Joya, Poniente or Car-chuna, are perhaps one of the reasons whyKing Baldouin of Belgium had his summerresidence in Motril right up until his death.

For those who prefer sightseeing themunicipality offers nume-rous possibilities. There areextremely importantarchaeological sites such asthose of Los Llanos deCarchuna, declared a Siteof Cultural Interest, in

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Sunset over the marina

Interior view of the Calderón Theatre

• The Church of laVictoria, 16th century. Itsmain Chapel is a fineexample of manneristdecorative style.• The Church of Capuchi-nos, 17th century.• The Shrine of SanAntonio, 17th century.• The Church of El Car-men, 17th century.• The Town Hall. Withbeautiful Mudejar cofferedceilings.• The Calderón de la Bar-ca Theatre, 1880. Theatredesigned in an Italian sty-le. Of special note are thepaintings of its ceilingdepicting the Muses.• The House of theCountess of Torre Isabel.A stately building in theAndalusian style, construc-ted in the second half ofthe 18th century. It is nowa House Museum andone of Motril’s mostimportant cultural centres.

ALSO VISIT…

Motril has concentratedits efforts in revalorisingthe former glory of itssugar industry, the mainfeature of the area forcenturies. To this aim theyhave embarked on aseries of projects such asthe creation of the Centrefor the Interpretation ofSugar Cane, in the Pue-blos de América park,and the Pre-industrialSugar Museum in theCasa de la Palma. Theformer concentrates onthe history and evolutionof the cultivation of sugarcane whilst the latteroffers the visitor a seriesof full-scale reproductionsof windmills, presses, andthe halls used to bake thesweet bread and elimina-te the residue.

THE SUGAR ROUTE

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The Calahonda Coast

The Moorish castle, the real jewel of the town’s monuments hasbeen well preserved. Although the structure dates from the 13th cen-tury, its true splendour was not attained until two centuries later and itbecame the summer residence of the Nasrid Kings of Granada. Subse-quently it was used by the Christians as a Royal Prison and a militarystronghold. The outer walls still remain, as do some of the towers,amongst which the Torre del Homenaje (keep) is particularly notable.

Salobreña also has important archaeological remains includingthose in the Cave of El Capitán, El Peñón, Monte Hacho or the Cami-no de los Barreros. Another building of interest is the Church of

Nuestra Señora del Rosario, probably cons-tructed over an old Arabic Mosque in

the 16th century.

Salobreña is one of the most distinctive towns on the Spa-nish Mediterranean coast. A town of white houses whichseem to climb a rocky crag, with its carefully designed urbanlayout and the imposing profile of the Spanish-Moorish fort, itis surrounded by a sea of tropical crops and the Mediterrane-an itself. Its mild sub-tropical climate invites visitors to enjoythe beaches and sheltered coves, or perhaps to stroll throughthe old town, retaining as it does, the true flavour of Andalu-sia, with narrow, winding streets, and picturesque corners.

The town, which was the Carthaginian Selambina, the RomanSegalvina, and the Moorish Salawbiniya, has witnessed historydown through the ages, and remains have even been found ofthe Argaric and Phoenician cultures.

During the Roman period it was part of a route whichlinked Cástulo with Malaka. An important fortress in theMiddle Ages, it was there that the expedition of AlfonsoI, the Warrior, arrived in Andalusi territory.

Incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile in 1489, ittook part in the Alpujarras uprising in 1568-69, afterwhich the Moriscos were expelled from the town.

In more modern times the population has concentra-ted in the area called la Villa, around the old Plaza delAyuntamiento (town hall square) and the Church of Nues-tra Señora del Rosario. In the 19th century the profitablesugar cane once again became a viable crop.

Route 3: SalobreñaThe taste of Andalusia

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Panoramic view of the Granadan town

The whitewashed houses of Salobreña climb the rocky crag

The taste of Andalusia

The town’s beaches and sheltered coves are perfect for enjoyingholidays to the full and are notable for their peaceful and tranquil natu-re. The crystal clear waters are ideal for nautical sports such as wind-surfing.

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La Guardia beach

Aerial view of Salobreña • Bóveda de la Plaza.A passage with vaulted cei-lings which linked the Albai-cín quarter with the heartof the Medina, the centreof commercial activity.• Tower of El Brocal.The only remaining partof the wall which surroun-ded Salobreña.• Paseo de las Flores.On this hillside the firstsettlers established theirhomes.• Mirador del Albaicín.Situated some 98 metresabove the Tajo, it offersextraordinary views of thefloodplains and theirsugar cane plantations,the La Caleta quarter, thebeaches, the cliffs, andthe Sierra del Chaparral.• Mirador del Postigo.Takes its name from asecondary gate into themedieval city, known inlater times as the Postigodel Mar, because it wasused to gain access to thebeach and the town’s har-bour.• Sugar Factory. Built in1876, the Ingenio de LaCaleta plant is the onlysugar cane factory opera-ting in Europe.

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The historical centre of the town ismade up of quarters next to, or insidethe wall which formed the fortificationsof Salobreña in the Middle Ages.

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Charm, simplicity, and tranquillityare the main characteristics of the

small villages to be found betweenthe Alpujarras and the Mediterranean,

retaining as they do, much of the essence of Arabic Andalusia.This can be seen by the observation posts and watchtowerswhich almost seem to still be protecting the coast.

In Gualchos, situated at the foot of the Sierra de Lújar, is thefishing village of Castell de Ferro, one of the first tourist resorts on thecoast of Granada. Of particular interest here is the Islamic Castle,which, for centuries, has dominated the beach.

Its rich vineyards make Polopos a key wine producing area. It islikely that during the Nasrid period it was part of the ancient Moorishdistrict of La tahá del Gran Cehel, which was ruled by Almegíjar. It alsogoverned villages like Castillo de Baños, which gives its name to itsdefensive fortress, and La Mamola, in which we can find watchtowerssuch as that of Cautor (16th century).

The southern part of the municipality of Sorvilán, where Los

Yesos and Melicena are to be found,the latter with its Muslim tower, opensout onto the coast and thus receivesthe soft and mild breezes of the area.

Evidence of Albuñol’s prehistoricpast can be found in the famous Caveof Los Murciélagos, where a conside-rable number of skeletons from theNeolithic period were found, togetherwith funerary objects and part of thecloth used to wrap the bodies.

The height of its splendour was reached during the Arabic-Anda-lusian period, thanks to theefficient use of the agricultu-ral resources. An importantconstruction dating from thisera is the Nasrid Castle ofLa Rábita, from where theremagnificent views of the hid-den beaches which are sha-red by the inhabitants ofneighbouring El Pozuelo.

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Fishing village of Castell de Ferro

Castle of La Rábita

Route 4: The eastern part of the Costa TropicalLooking over the Mediterranean

• Parish Church of SanMiguel Arcángel, 16th century. Gualchos.• Cave of Las Campanas.Gualchos.• Archaeological remainsand Tower of La Rijana. Castell de Ferro.• Parish Church ofPolopos, 18th century.• Shrine of Santa Ana.Haza de Trigo.• Parish Church of LaVirgen del Rosario, 17th

century. Albuñol.• Casa de las Margaritas,Albuñol. The house inwhich the Spanish authorPedro Antonio de Alarcónwrote most of his work.

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Be t -ween the Sierrade los Guájares andthe warm Mediterrane-an coast, visitors can explo-re a number of attractive inland villages such as Molvízar, Ítra-bo, Jete, Otívar and Lentejí. Despite the fact that these villa-ges are away from the most popular beaches in the province,they nonetheless benefit from having all the charm and tran-quillity of the mountains.

Sharing a common past and history, each has their own distinctivecharacter and there are remains which offer evidence of their key com-mercial role during the period of expansion of the first civilisations inthe Mediterranean basin. Their height of splendour came with the Mus-lims who were responsible for the efficient exploitation of agriculturalresources and they were to become authentic defensive strongholdsagainst the constant threat of incursions by Berber pirates.

Embraced by the Sierras of Cázulas andAlmijara, Molvízar stands in an area of fertilefloodplains, cultivated with tropical fruit, whichgives it the appearance of a huge green tapestry.The well-conserved main town of the municipa-lity is noted for its individual character and itprovides an ideal setting for practising a broadrange of outdoor activities from walking to para-gliding. After a little exercise, there is nothing

better than savouring the delicious dis-hes of its traditional cuisine accompaniedby a good mosto (must).

The legacy of the Moriscos is evidentin the narrow lanes and immaculate white-washed houses and gardens of Ítrabo. Twocultural routes pass through the village: theLeón el Africano (Leo the African) and al-Idrisi routes.

A stretch of pine forests lead the wayto a spectacular natural area known asCataratas del Paraíso - waterfalls origina-ting from the Nacimiento, a stream whichirrigates the fields of cherimoyas, mangosand citric fruits. These tropical crops blendharmoniously with extensive fields of vineswhich are used to produce a high qualitymosto. Ítrabo’s great wine tradition is reflec-ted in the Fiesta del Vino, in which the bestwine producers in the province compete.

An overwhelming feeling of calm enve-lops the visitor when they arrive in Jete, avillage situated half way between the CostaTropical and the Sierra Almijara, which is

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Typical street in Molvízar

Route 5: Inland villagesA simple charm

A simple charm

surrounded by spectacular greenscenery.

The best way of getting a goodidea of the village and its surroun-dings is either to stroll through itssmall and well preserved centre –where we can find the ParishChurch which was built between the16th and 17th century and housesworks by Alonso de Mena -, or tofollow the paths to its natural areasor forest tracks. In the area known

as Las Angosturas, a popular ima-ge of the Virgen de las

Aguas, erected tocommemora-

te a fortu-n a t e

event that rid thetown from a longperiod ofdraughts, is wors-hipped.

Passing bygorges, steep slo-pes, and rushingstreams whicherode the ruggedhills, we descendto Otívar, stopping on the way toadmire one of its little treasures: theCascada de Árboles waterfall. Thevillage’s most illustrious historicalfigure is Juan Fernández Cañas, thecelebrated mayor, also known as ElTío Caridad (the Uncle of Charity)and El Coronel (the Colonel), whopinned down the Napoleonic forces,against whom he fought valiantly inthe War of Independence.

For its ecological value, this sitehas been included in the Sierras deTejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natu-ral Park. Both the flora and the fau-

na, and particularly the mountain goat, make Otívar one of the most attrac-tive places to visit in the area.

The last place on this tour of inland villages is Lentejí, from wherethere are marvellous views of the fertile fields and the desert, the openskies, the mountains, and the sea. It is the ideal spot for those who wishto go walking, ride mountain bikes, or enjoy the exhilarating experienceof canyoneering.

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Panoramic views of the town of Jete

Views of Jete

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• Parish Church of Molvízar, 18th century.• Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, 16th century. Ítrabo.• Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Salud,17th century. Ítrabo.• Shrine of the Virgen de Bohijar. Jete. Until 1936 housed a smallsculpture believed to perform miracles which, according to tradition,appeared to a shepherd in the 16th century.• Parish Church of Otívar. In Mudejar style, dedicated to San José.• Argaric Necropolis, Lentejí. Situated in the shaded side of Tinajas,on a site known as Rotura de Cecilio, next to Chorrera del Papo.• Parish Church, 16th century. Lentejí.

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